Aussie chief expects medals from our swimmers

The head of Australia's all-conquering swimming team predicts Britain will push his country hard in Beijing.

Alan Thompson said huge changes in the sport would make the battle for gold medals fiercer than at any other competition.

He said: "It's going to be the fastest ever - it'll be the toughest to make the semis, the toughest to make the finals and the toughest to win. Every facet will be tough, the depth in world swimming is huge and it won't be a two-horse race, it won't be just Australia and the United States."

Thompson, who leads a team with record holders in nine Olympic events, said Britain and Japan had made huge strides. "They have performed very solidly with great depth," he added. "They only need to make small conversions from finals to medals and minor medals to major medals."

Australia won 15 medals in Athens four years ago, finishing second behind the USA who captured 28.